By Khalida Sarwari
San Jose’s Evergreen Valley College opened its new arts center Thursday after 12 years of planning.
The $38 million project includes classrooms, piano practice rooms, a dance studio, theater set, an art department, painting studios, and a sculpture and jewelry studio.
Monica Gomez, a spokeswoman for the Evergreen Community College District, said she hopes the 50,000-square foot facility, located at 3095 Yerba Buena Road, will serve as a place of inspiration for students and the community alike.
“I think this is a tremendous opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate the arts, to bring together different cultures, different types of folks in the community,” Gomez said. “It gives students a first hand look at the arts, and how to incorporate the arts into everyday learning.”
The 400-seat state-of-the-art theater is especially unique for its media capabilities, Gomez said.
An official dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this morning to culminate a weeklong celebration. Students were joined by legislators and community leaders for activities including a tribe blessing, art installation, theater and outdoor dance theater performance and a mural painting demonstration.
The center was funded through bond measures passed 12 years ago in addition to a grant contribution from the state chancellor’s office, Gomez said.